Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy Pál Kovács and Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Denis Flory opened an exhibition about the rich and variegated fauna and flora of Paks and the environment-friendly operation and development opportunities of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant on 7 May 2012 in the Central Reception Hall of the United Nation’s Office in Vienna. The exhibition jointly organised by Hungary’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the Ministry of National Development and the MVM Group will be open up to 18 May 2012.

“The natural and the built environments exist side by side in complete harmony in Paks. In addition to the fact that the Paks nuclear power plant generates electricity at the lowest cost, another great advantage is that, unlike fossil technologies, it does not increase the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These four blocks save nearly as much oxygen as generated by all the forests in Hungary in a year, a volume roughly equivalent to the amount of oxygen breathed in by the total population of the country in a year”, added Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy Pál Kovács of the Ministry of National Development.

Relative to other electricity generating power plants, the nuclear power plant causes the least environmental pollution, does not emit hazardous substances or contribute to the global climate change. Currently, we can see no feasible and realistic alternative to the extension of the nuclear power plant’s operating time to guarantee Hungary’s safe electricity supply for decades.

The inaugural was honoured by the presence of Yukija Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Agency, who will visit Budapest in June this year under a previously agreed arrangement.

Minister of State Pál Kovács will represent Hungary as a member delegated to the Board of Governors of the IAEA. The event related to Hungary’s two-year membership carries the message, primarily for diplomats and politicians, of transparency and increasing confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The exhibition can be visited up to 18 May 2012 upon preliminary registration with UN.

(Ministry of National Development , Department of Communication)